Injured 2 yr old wild grey - Need help to provide pain relief

[HRT4SQRLS]

Don't count the boy out! If the limp tail is the only obstacle to release I would consider amputating the tail so that it doesn't drag. I would leave a short tail. I have a Dixie also. She has a 2 inch tail. She is living large in the trees. Her bob tail is adorable.
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[DixiesMom]

Don't count the boy out! If the limp tail is the only obstacle to release I would consider amputating the tail so that it doesn't drag. I would leave a short tail. I have a Dixie also. She has a 2 inch tail. She is living large in the trees. Her bob tail is adorable.
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Thanks!
We are considering amputation. The vet also said that perhaps his tail skin will become harder and it would protect itself from getting sores. She compared it to a rat who drags his tail without it being an issue.

I would love to get a better idea of what amputating a tail entails. How long is the recovery? What does the caretaker need to do? Does the squirrel need to be kept in a small cage during recovery? Those are all things we need to factor in when weighing his options. The absolute ideal scenario would be a release wihhout amputation.

[Chickenlegs]

Sweeper has a girl (Nougie) raised, tail amputated finally after terrible issues with drag sores, and successfully released. You can talko her. Last I heard, Nougie is living large in the trees behind their house, bob tail and all. I don't think that tail will callous. It WILL get dragged raw and become infected.

[TubeDriver]

I agree with CL. Squirrel tails that drag tend to get sores, not calloused. I think I squirrel with a bob tail can do fine outside!

Sweeper has a girl (Nougie) raised, tail amputated finally after terrible issues with drag sores, and successfully released. You can talko her. Last I heard, Nougie is living large in the trees behind their house, bob tail and all. I don't think that tail will callous. It WILL get dragged raw and become infected.

[Nancy in New York]

A few years back there was a wild squirrel in our yard with a limp/dragging tail.
The one big concern I had was watching him try to climb a tree with "snow balls"
clustered on his tail.They really weighted him down and climbing was difficult with
the additional weight.
Hopefully they melted off before he attempted to leap to another branch.

[DixiesMom]

I agree with CL. Squirrel tails that drag tend to get sores, not calloused. I think I squirrel with a bob tail can do fine outside!

I think the vet suggesting that it might callous is out of ignorance about squirrels. I trust what you guys say more. Vets around here (Quebec, Canada) don't know much about squirrels... sadly. I think I will start a separate post to ask people to share their amputation stories. I want to know as much as possible before making a decision and plan accordingly. Right now, the only indoor cage we have (critter nation) is occupied by 2 babies and will be for 7 more weeks. Well, we do have a rabbit cage, but I could not bare the thought of putting him in such a confined space. Even the critter nation is so darn small for an adult squirrel.

[DixiesMom]

A few years back there was a wild squirrel in our yard with a limp/dragging tail.
The one big concern I had was watching him try to climb a tree with "snow balls"
clustered on his tail.They really weighted him down and climbing was difficult with
the additional weight.
Hopefully they melted off before he attempted to leap to another branch.

Do you mean the squirrel had both a limping limb and a dragging tail? That would be like Pretty Boy. I would love to know how long he managed to survive like this.
It's so tough to judge for others what is best for them. If Pretty Boy could choose between a shorter life in the wild or a longer one safe in captivity, what would he choose? I would gladly grant his wish If I knew what it was. My gut feeling is that he would choose freedom, even if that meant a shorter life.

[DixiesMom]

Sweeper has a girl (Nougie) raised, tail amputated finally after terrible issues with drag sores, and successfully released. You can talko her. Last I heard, Nougie is living large in the trees behind their house, bob tail and all. I don't think that tail will callous. It WILL get dragged raw and become infected.

Will start a separate post about amputation and hopefully Sweeper will chime in. Thanks!

[Nancy in New York]

Do you mean the squirrel had both a limping limb and a dragging tail? That would be like Pretty Boy. I would love to know how long he managed to survive like this.
It's so tough to judge for others what is best for them. If Pretty Boy could choose between a shorter life in the wild or a longer one safe in captivity, what would he choose? I would gladly grant his wish If I knew what it was. My gut feeling is that he would choose freedom, even if that meant a shorter life.

No, he only had the dragging tail, no limping limbs.
I suspect some sort of lower spinal injury.
I think if Pretty Boy were totally happy indoors that would be his choice, BUT who
knows if he would always accept that or would he yearn to have his freedom.
Some people will keep a squirrel regardless,
but I call them prisoners then, and the people, hoarders.
Keeping something alive with no quality of life, is not a life.
There is no doubt in my mind, you will put his best interest first.

[DixiesMom]

There is no doubt in my mind, you will put his best interest first.

Thank you for saying that Nancy. That means a lot